JP2002306402A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope, capable of preventing damage due to careless handling. SOLUTION: The endoscope comprises an endoscope body, and a peripheral unit connected to the endoscope body to constitute a part of the endoscope system. The endoscope body has a connector detachable from the peripheral unit, a flexible regulating mechanism for regulating the hardness of an inserting part flexible tube, and a switching mechanism which can operate the regulating mechanism in a state in which the switching mechanism is connected to the peripheral unit via the connector, which does not enable the operation of the regulating mechanism in a non-connected state and which holds the flexible tube in the most flexible state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope system capable of adjusting the flexibility of a flexible insertion tube.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an endoscope, in order to facilitate insertion into a bent body cavity, a flexible tubular flexible tube is provided at an insertion portion in the body, and the flexibility of the flexible tube is increased. There is one that is adjustable. In such an endoscope, an operator (operator) performs an inspection while adjusting the flexibility of the flexible tube portion, and after the inspection, returns the flexible tube portion to the most flexible state. The endoscope is cleaned.

In the conventional endoscope, the flexibility of the flexible tube is not changed unless an operator performs an adjustment operation. Therefore, if the operator forgets to return the flexible tube to the original flexible state, the flexible tube is maintained in a hard state, and the endoscope is attached to the washing machine. However, there is a risk that the flexible tube may be damaged if it is forcibly mounted.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope system capable of preventing damage to an endoscope due to careless handling based on the above awareness of the problem.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an endoscope system comprising an endoscope main body and a peripheral device connected to the endoscope main body and constituting a part of the endoscope system. However, a connector that can be attached to and detached from the peripheral device, a flexibility adjusting mechanism that adjusts the flexibility of the insertion section flexible tube, and a flexible adjustment mechanism that is connected to the peripheral device via the connector. And a switching mechanism for enabling the operation of the flexible adjustment mechanism in the disconnected state and holding the insertion portion flexible tube in the most flexible state.

According to the above construction, when the endoscope is not connected to the peripheral device, the flexible tube of the insertion portion is held in the most flexible state, so that damage of the endoscope due to careless handling is prevented. can do.

[0007] Specifically, the flexibility adjusting mechanism is, for example, a flexible variable member whose hardness is changed by expansion and contraction, which is built in the insertion portion flexible tube, and a mechanism for expanding and contracting the flexibility variable member. It can be configured to have a wire member and driving means for pulling the wire member. In this case, the switching mechanism allows the pulling of the wire by the driving means in a state where the endoscope is connected to the peripheral device, and disables the pulling of the wire by the driving means in the non-connected state, and the insertion section flexible tube is most often used. Hold in a flexible state.

The switching mechanism may be an electromagnetic clutch mechanism disposed between the wire member and the driving means, and the electromagnetic clutch mechanism has the endoscope connected to a peripheral device. Only in this case, it is preferable to transmit the driving force of the driving means to the wire member.

In the above-mentioned endoscope system, when the endoscope is an electronic endoscope provided with an image pickup means, a processor device for image-processing an electric signal output from the image pickup means is provided. It is practical. Further, the peripheral device may be a light source device that supplies illumination light to the endoscope.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an endoscope system to which the present invention is applied. The endoscope system 1 includes an endoscope 10 that captures an image of a body cavity of a subject, a processor device 40 that performs signal processing on an image captured by the endoscope 10, and a monitor device 50 that displays a video signal output from the processor device 40.
It is constituted by.

As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope 10 includes a flexible insertion unit 11, a grip operation unit 12 that is gripped by an operator of the endoscope 10, and a side portion of the grip operation unit 12. The universal tube 13 is provided, and a connector 14 that is detachable from the processor device 40 is provided at the tip of the universal tube 13.

The insertion portion 11 has a distal end 11a, a curved portion 11b, and a flexible tube 11c formed in this order from the distal end (right side in FIG. 2). As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, an objective lens 15, an illumination lens 16, an air supply nozzle 17a, a water supply nozzle 17b, and a treatment instrument insertion channel outlet 18 are arranged. The body cavity image formed by the objective lens 15 is captured by an unillustrated imaging unit (CC).
The electronic image is formed by D), and can be observed on the monitor device 50 via the processor device 40. The illumination lens 16 has a light source device (not shown) provided in the processor device 40 via a light guide that passes from the universal tube 13 to the grip operation unit 12 and the inside of the body insertion unit 11.
Illumination light is provided. The bending section 11b is operated to be bent by a bending operation knob 19 provided on the gripping operation section 12. The grasping operation section 12 is provided with an entrance section 20 for the treatment instrument insertion channel leading to the treatment instrument insertion channel exit section 18 and a flexibility adjustment button 21 for adjusting the flexibility of the flexible tube section 11c.

The endoscope 10 has a flexible adjusting coil tube 22 whose hardness changes by expansion and contraction, and a flexible adjusting coil tube 22 so that the flexibility of the flexible tube portion 11c can be changed.
Is provided with a flexible adjustment wire 23 inserted therethrough.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the flexible adjustment coil tube 22 and the flexible adjustment wire 23.

The flexible adjusting coil tube 22 is inserted into the outer tube 24 and has one end abutting or fixed to the distal end of the flexible adjusting wire 23 by a wire stopper 25. At both ends of the outer tube 24, a front end cap 26 and a rear end cap 27 are provided as stopper members for restricting the forward and backward movement of the flexible adjustment coil tube 22 and the flexible adjustment wire 23.
The rear end cap 27 is provided with a flexible adjusting coil tube 2.
The other end of 2 is abutted or fixed. Note that the rear end cap 27 is also fixed inside the body insertion portion 11. The flexible adjustment wire 23 has a rear end fixed to the winding drum 28 and is pulled by the rotation of the winding drum 28. When the flexible adjustment wire 23 is pulled, the flexibility adjustment coil tube 22 is compressed, and the hardness of the flexible tube 11c increases.

A driving motor 29 shown in FIG. 5 functions as a driving means for rotating the winding drum 28 to pull the flexible adjusting wire 23, and a driving motor 29 is provided between the winding drum 28 and the driving motor 29. An electromagnetic clutch 30 is provided as a switching mechanism (selection operation mechanism).

When the endoscope 10 is connected to the processor 40, the electromagnetic clutch 30 receives power from the processor 40 via the power supply terminal 14a of the connector 14 and the power supply cord 31 (FIG. 6). The pair of clutch plates 32 are brought into contact by electromagnetic force. In this state,
Since the power of the drive motor 29 is transmitted to the take-up drum 28 via the electromagnetic clutch 30, when the flexibility adjustment button 21 is pressed, the drive motor 29 is driven by a predetermined amount, whereby the take-up drum 28 rotates. Moving and flexible adjustment wire 2
3, the hardness of the flexible tube portion 11c can be adjusted. On the other hand, when the endoscope 10 is not connected to the processor device 40, the processor device 40
Is shut off, and the clutch plate 32 is kept separated. In this state, since the pulling of the flexibility adjusting wire 23 by the drive motor 29 becomes impossible, the flexibility adjusting coil tube 22 returns to the uncompressed free state, and the flexibility adjusting button 21 is pressed. Also, the hardness of the flexible tube portion 11c is not changed. That is, the flexible tube portion 11c
Is kept in the most flexible state.

The endoscope system 1 having the above configuration is used as follows. First, the endoscope 10 is connected to the processor device 40 via the connector 14. Then, power is supplied from the processor device 40 to the drive motor 29 and the electromagnetic clutch 30, and the power of the drive motor 29 is supplied to the electromagnetic clutch 30.
Through the winding drum 28. That is,
The hardness of the flexible tube portion 11c can be adjusted by the flexibility adjustment button 21.

Next, the body insertion portion 11 is introduced into the body of the subject. Then, the image of the test portion formed by the objective lens 15 is converted into an electronic image by the imaging means (not shown), and is displayed on the monitor device 50 via the processor device 40. While observing the image projected on the monitor device 50, the body insertion section 11 is directed to a desired direction to perform imaging and observation in the body cavity. Then, the flexibility adjustment button 21 is pressed. Then, the drive motor 29 is driven by a predetermined amount, and the driving force causes the winding drum 28 to pull the flexible adjustment wire 23 and compress the flexible adjustment coil tube 22 to harden the flexible tube portion 11c.

When the examination / treatment is completed, the endoscope 1
The endoscope 10 is removed from the processor device 40, and the endoscope 10 is attached to the washing machine for washing. When the endoscope 10 is detached from the processor device 40, the power supply to the drive motor 29 and the electromagnetic clutch 30 is cut off, and the flexible tube portion 11c returns to the most flexible state. In this power cutoff state, even if the flexible adjustment button 21 is pressed,
Is not pulled, the flexible tube portion 11c is held in the most flexible state.

As described above, the endoscope 10 is connected to the processor device 4.
When removed from zero, the flexible tube 11c automatically returns to the most flexible state, so the operator of the endoscope 10 has forgotten to return the flexible tube 11c to the original flexible state. Even in such a case, the endoscope 10 is not attached to the washing machine while the flexible tube portion 11c remains in a hard state, so that the flexible tube portion 11c can be prevented from being damaged. In other words, before removing the endoscope 10 from the processor device 40, it is not necessary to press the flexibility adjustment button 21 to return the flexible tube portion 11c to the original flexible state. Thereby, convenience is improved.

When the endoscope 10 is not connected to the processor device 40, the power supply of the drive motor 29 is also cut off, so that the electromagnetic clutch 30 is not provided, and the flexible adjusting coil tube 22 uses the repulsive force. The flexible tube 11c may be configured to return to the original flexible state. However, when the electromagnetic clutch 30 is provided as in the present embodiment,
The flexible tube 11c can be returned to the most flexible state.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated embodiment, the endoscope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, a manual traction knob is provided in place of the flexibility and drive motor 29, and the manual traction knob is rotated to operate the flexible adjustment wire 23.
May be adopted. As the endoscope 10, an optical endoscope or a fiberscope may be used instead of the electronic endoscope.

[0023]

According to the present invention, in an endoscope system capable of adjusting the flexibility of an insertion portion flexible tube, the endoscope is connected to a peripheral device forming a part of the endoscope system. When not, the flexible tube of the insertion portion is held in the most flexible state, so that damage to the endoscope due to careless handling can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an endoscope system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of the endoscope of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the body insertion portion as seen from the direction of arrow I in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a hardness adjusting member of the endoscope of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view as seen from the direction of arrow II in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating power supply to the drive motor and the electromagnetic clutch in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope system 10 Endoscope 11 Internal insertion part 12 Grasping operation part 13 Universal tube 14 Connector 14a Power terminal 15 Objective lens 16 Illumination lens 17a Air supply nozzle 17b Water supply nozzle 18 Treatment tool insertion channel outlet 19 Curving operation knob Reference Signs List 20 entrance of treatment instrument insertion channel 21 flexibility adjustment button 22 flexibility adjustment coil tube 23 flexibility adjustment wire 24 exterior tube 25 wire stopper 26 tip mouthpiece 27 rear end mouthpiece 28 winding drum 29 drive motor 30 electromagnetic clutch DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 Power supply cord 32 Clutch plate 40 Processor device 50 Monitor device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Keishi Kunii 2-36-9 Maeno-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Inside Asahiko Gaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Shinji Hayakawa 2-36-9 Maeno-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo No. Asahi Gaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 4C061 AA00 BB02 CC06 DD03 FF29 FF50 JJ11

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope system comprising: an endoscope main body; and a peripheral device connected to the endoscope main body and constituting a part of the endoscope system. A connector detachable from the device, a flexibility adjustment mechanism for adjusting the flexibility of the insertion section flexible tube, and the operation of the flexibility adjustment mechanism when connected to a peripheral device via the connector An endoscope system comprising: a switching mechanism that disables the operation of the flexibility adjusting mechanism in a disconnected state and holds the insertion portion flexible tube in the most flexible state. 2. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the flexibility adjusting mechanism includes a flexible variable member which is built in the flexible tube of the insertion portion and whose hardness changes by expansion and contraction, and the flexibility. A wire member for extending and contracting the sex variable member, and a driving unit for pulling the wire member, wherein the switching mechanism performs wire pulling by the driving unit when the endoscope main body is connected to a peripheral device. An endoscope system that allows the insertion section flexible tube to be held in the most flexible state while allowing the driving means to withdraw the wire in the unconnected state. 3. The endoscope system according to claim 2, wherein the switching mechanism is an electromagnetic clutch mechanism disposed between the wire member and the driving means, and the electromagnetic clutch mechanism has an endoscope. An endoscope system for transmitting a driving force of the driving unit to the wire member only when a mirror main body is connected to a peripheral device. 4. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope main body is an electronic endoscope provided with an image pickup means, and said peripheral device is provided with said image pickup means. Endoscope system, which is a processor device that performs image processing on an electric signal output from a computer. 5. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is a light source device that supplies illumination light to the endoscope.